Joseph Koensgen is an Art Expo success story

Nature and animals have been represented by many artists — both realistically and in abstract.

Realist Joseph Koensgen, a young Winnipeg artist, is one of the most popular at the annual Art Expo exhibition, which runs Oct. 23-25 at Assiniboia Downs.

Koensgen has recently taken the bold step to become a full-time artist at just 31 years of age, encouraged in part by his seven years exhibiting his paintings and meeting thousands of people at Art Expo.

Manitoba Art Expo has given new artists a showing and sale venue for 20 years. Many careers, including Koensgen’s, have prospered as a result.

Koensgen enjoys working with other artists at Art Expo in a spirit of volunteerism. Each year the show progresses his contact and customer base to improve his future possibilities. He also loves to demonstrate in front of groups, and will do so again this years. He plans to be midway through a new painting and will explain his method as he paints.

The photo of his painting of the black wolf has an interesting story behind it. Originally the piece was part of his 2014 demo at Art Expo but, as he continued the painting, he grew frustrated and decided to scrap it. He re-used the board to begin a new piece of the wolf with a snowy background for more contrast and punch. The dramatic result is phenomenal.

Koensgen’s interest in nature and art began at a young age, as his father took him on regular outdoor excursions to Riding Mountain National Park. His appreciation for nature led to drawing and painting. For him, nature and art seemed to go hand in hand. In his teenage years, he was awed and inspired by the realistic work of Robert Bateman.

To his credit, Koensgen’s work has also been featured three times by Ducks Unlimited. Their program chooses only 10-15 pieces from the works of scores of talented Canadian artists. From these they make framed prints to raise money for support and awareness of wetland conservation.

You will be able to visit Koensgen in person and watch him paint and describe his work, along with up to 40 other Manitoban artists at Art Expo, Oct. 23-25 at Assiniboia Downs.